Editors

Find the Best Chipper Shredder for Your Garden

You love having a bountiful garden and beautiful yard but perhaps not so much the labor involved. Honestly, yard work is not in my top five list of ways to spend my weekend either. On the other hand, gorgeous flowers, fresh organic veggies and a well-trimmed yard bring enormous satisfaction to me and my family. I have produced these by my own hand for nearly 45 years. Over those years, I learned how to transform gardening chores into pleasurable tasks by the use of quality tools.

One of my best decisions was to acquire a chipper shredder machine. In fact, I have researched several dozens of these and purchased 10 models for my own use over the decades. I currently own an electric and a gas-powered model that I utilize regularly. In what follows, I pass on my knowledge, experience and research in order to help you learn required to become an informed chipper shredder buyer. Included are ten detailed chipper shredder reviews of the best chipper shredders I could put my hands on.

What Is a Wood Chipper Shredder?

Wood chippers, wood shredders and combination wood chipper shredders all have one thing in common.They cut, chip or grind organic material into smaller pieces to reduce its volume, make it easier to handle and prepare it for mulching or composting.

There are several different designs for wood chipper shredder machines, but most homeowner machines use a disk design that includes sharp blades for cutting wood and semi-sharp, hardened flails for breaking down lighter material such as leaves, grass or small twigs. The blades and flails are attached to a large, heavy fly wheel run by either a gasoline or electric motor. Single-purpose machines either chip wood or shred lighter material into mulch. Most residential machines do both. Most of the chipper shredder reviews in this guide are for combo machines.

Combo chipper shredders have two ports through which material is inserted. A small chute to one side is used for chipping branches up to four inches in diameter on larger machines. A wide mouth hopper accepts smaller material such as leaves, clippings, grass and twigs up to one-inch diameter. After cutting or shredding, the material from either the chute or hopper is directed toward an exit port. Usually, the exit is covered with a screen or mesh that blocks larger pieces so that they are re-shredded until small enough to pass through. The reduced material either flows onto the ground or into a collection bag.

A popular, economical cutting design aimed at homeowners with small yards is the use of trimmer cord instead of a disk with blades and flails. The cutting heads are much like that on a string trimmer and may be mounted horizontally or vertically. These machines are made for small, light and loose material. Their advantages are lower cost, lightweight and extreme portability.

Here is a good video that will give you a closer look on chipper shredder basics:

Why You Need a Wood Chipper Shredder

The days when you could simply burn yard debris in your backyard or dispose of it in the landfill are passing quickly. Most municipalities forbid these disposal methods these days. Additionally, more and more home gardeners are coming to appreciate the value of yard and garden waste for use as mulch or compost.

A chipper shredder is ideal for converting leaves, twigs and branches into flowerbed mulch or nutrient-rich fertilizer for your vegetables while avoiding less environmentally-friendly methods of disposal. If you currently compost yard debris and kitchen vegetable waste or have contemplated doing this, then understand that a chipper shredder significantly speeds up the composting process by increasing the surface area of the composting material.

You could, of course, accomplish much of what a chipper shredder does with hand tools such as pruners and knives, but unless your seasonal yard debris volume is very small that is truly time-consuming. Reducing yard debris to a product as small and regular as what can be accomplished with a good chipper shredder is, frankly, nearly impossible.

Types of Wood Chipper Shredders for Home Use

There are two types of chipper shredder power you will come across in your research: electric-powered and gas-powered. Under gas-powered shredders, we review both stand-up, stationary shredders and walk-behind vacuum chipper shredder machines.

Electric Power Chipper Shredders

Chipper shredders with electric motors do not produce as much power as their larger gas-powered brothers,but electric powered machines are still quite useful. These machines come with motors that range from approximately one to nearly two horsepower. Although the majority of these machines only handle loose debris, the largest ones can chip wood limbs too. They typically weigh from 13 lbs. for string shredders up to nearly 100 lbs. for heavy-duty combo models.

Despite their lower power output compared to most gas-powered chipper shredders, electric machines have valuable advantages:

Much lighter weight-to-power ratio

Easier to move from place to place

They produce less noise than gas-powered shredders

They produce no exhaust fumes

They take up less space

They cost less

Their biggest disadvantage is that you need an electrical outlet nearby or a heavy-duty extension cord. The largest models require a 12-ga. cord no longer than 100 feet. Personally, I love my Patriot CSV-2515 14A electric chipper shredder as a supplement to my main gas-powered shredder. The Patriot stays near the compost bins for shredding kitchen waste, leaves and medium-sized wood debris.

Gasoline Wood Chipper Shredders

A standalone, gasoline-powered machine is the best chipper shredder option for most homeowners. These come in models with 4-HP engines up to 10-HP and beyond. Most weigh in the 100 to 200 lbs. range, but the biggest ones are so heavy that you need to tow them with a tractor or some other vehicle. The lowest power models are equivalent in chipping/shredding power to the most powerful electric models. Keep in mind that these machines are quite a bit noisier than electric shredders.

You should strongly consider buying a gas-powered chipper shredder if any of these conditions apply to your situation:

You regularly have a large volume of prunings, branches, leaves and other yard debris

You need to chip branches larger than 1.5 inches in diameter

You need to move the machine outside the reach of a long, large gauge extension cord

You want to chip the most material in the least amount of time

If you think you need a gas-powered chipper shredder, then my best recommendation is to buy the most horsepower you can afford. For most people with average amounts of leaves and branches, anything less than an 8-HP machine is probably going to leave them disappointed. I have nearly an acre of yard and am quite happy with my Earthquake 9-HP chipper shredder, since I've been unable to bog it down even with 3-inch diameter branches. A smaller, less powerful machine would leave me wanting more.

Gasoline Walk-Behind Chipper Shredder Vacuum

I have owned two walk-behind leaf shredders and can tell you from experience that they sure beat a hand rake for cleaning up your yard in the wet, cold fall weather. I do not have one now, however, because most of my trees are evergreen. This Billy Goat KV600 lawn and litter vacuum is similar to the last shredder vacuum that I owned.

Yard debris shredder vacuums work by sucking up the leaves and other light debris on your lawn or paved areas and sending it to an impeller with blades that chop it into fine bits. The mulch is deposited into an attached collection bag so you never need to stoop over when cleaning up the yard. The operation is like using a walk-behind rotary mower except that these machines are typically bigger and heavier. Vac machines do need more storage space than the average mower. Most of these come with engines in the 5-HP to 8-HP range and various widths up to 28 inches. Some have an attached vacuum hose for reaching into corners. They make yard and driveway cleanup a pleasure. Furthermore, since many come with a built-in chipper chute for larger limbs, a combo shredder vacuum is sometimes the best chipper shredder option compared to a standalone machine.

How to Choose the Best Chipper Shredder

Here are 10 things to consider when shopping for a wood chipper shredder:

Brandname – There are plenty of good brands to choose from, so skip cheap Chinese knock-offs such as Chicago Electric.

Sound level – If you think the neighbors will complain about a noisy gas-powered chipper, or you do not like loud machines yourself, stick to electric chipper shredders.

Feed capacity – This feature indicates the size of limbs that can be fed to the chipper.

Reduction ratio – This is a nominal measure of how much a chipper shredder reduces the volume of the unprocessed debris. Typical values are from 10:1 to 20:1.

Weight – Unless you think your chipper shredder is going to sit in one place, think about how much weight you are comfortable wheeling around on uneven ground.

HP/cc – The motor or engine's HP or piston displacement in cubic centimeters gives you a relative measure for a chipper shredder's power, but keep in mind that manufacturers often inflate these numbers.

Number of blades and flails – More blades and flails indicates a more efficient machine and probably longer intervals between sharpening them.

Maintainability – Electric motors need less maintenance than gasoline engines. You need to winterize a gas engine if you live in a cold climate. Blades and flails need sharpening and replacement from time to time, so check on parts availability.

Convenience features – These include tilt-down hoppers, electric starters, self-sharpening blades or a tow bar.

Warranty – Warranties are slippery things like HP ratings, but they give a rough idea of the manufacturer's confidence in their product.

You may have noticed that price was not one of the features listed. That is because I personally think that should be considered last even on a tight budget. A good chipper shredder should last 10 to 20 years under average use unless you have a huge yard with lots of trees. Over that period of time, your original cost is amortized, so the difference in, say, a $500 machine and a $1,000 machine is between $25 and $50 per year. Believe me, you are not going to mind that small increment in annual cost if you have a machine that does not make you struggle to use it and holds up under demanding use.

Watch this video guide for better understanding on how to use chipper shredders:

Ten Reviews of the Best Wood Chipper Shredders

Electric Chipper Shredder Reviews

Sun Joe Chipper Joe CJ601E

Specs

Overview

The Sun Joe Chipper Joe turns yard rubbish into mulch in quick order. It has a powerful 14A electric motorrunning at 4300 RPM that handles limbs up to 1.5 inches. At only 26 lbs. and with 6-inch wheels, itsportability is excellent. The special safety lock on the hopper prevents the motor from operating whenthehopper is open for cleaning. For a small yard withsmall debris, this shredder is an excellent choice.TheCJ601E's portability and power make yard cleanup goquickly and smoothly every time. Be careful not topush this machine too hard, however, as the housingis plastic. It is not really powerful enough to shred wet kitchen waste unless you feed it very slowly.

Overview

The WORX WG430 Mulcher/Shredder is an example of ablade-less or string mulcher. These appeal to myengineering background for their sheer simplicity.There are no blades that need sharpening, and it isvirtually clog-free. It uses normal weed whacker nylon line. You do have to replace these frequently,but thatis much easier than replacing metal blades. Although you will not be slicing up limbs with this, it isideal for leaves, kitchen waste and other small debris. The entire mulcher/shredder dismantles without tools foreasyshelf storage in the garage or garden shed. This may seem like a small point, but the oversized on/offswitchis a winning feature to me. I hate feeling for tiny switches when I have gloves on. Like any small shredder, do not feed it too fast or it will clog. This is a very affordable mulcher that you can keep permanently next to the compost pile.

LawnMaster FD1501 Electric Chipper Shredder

Specs

Overview

If you are looking for a highly portable, electric shredder and your debris tends more towards sticks and limbs, then this is the chipper shredder for you. Do not let its small size and light weight fool you.It will notgobble down 1.5-inch limbs like a big 8-HP gas chipper, but it will keep up if you do not force it. Italsohandles leaves, though its forte is sticks. The blade slices through green wood easily, can be sharpened on abench grinder and is inexpensive to replace. It hasfour edges in total, two of which are used at onetime, so you can flip it over when one side dulls. One thingI really like about this mulcher is how easily youcan cleara jam. Simply unscrew one knob, push back the coverand lift out whatever is blocking it. A mulch collectionbag is included, and it has a 2-year warranty. If you are looking for the best chipper shredder with electricpower for a smaller yard, this is it.

Earthquake 9060300 Chipper Shredder with 205cc 4-Cycle Gas Engine

Specs

Overview

I have owned a larger Earthquake chipper shredder for several years now, so I can attest to their durability.The 9060300 shredder has a 6-HP Briggs and Strattonengine that handles all the debris from a medium tolarge-size yard. It has both a chipper chute and ahopper for lighter debris. At a little over 100 lbs., it takes alittle muscle to move it around, but the big 10-inch wheels work well over uneven ground. The combinationof hammer flails and chipping blades handles tons of leaves and up to 3-inch limbs. I could not recommendgoing over 2-inch limbs if the wood is dry hardwoodhowever. For the price, I think this may be the best small wood chipper value around.

Here is a tip for making blade changing easy: Stuff a big rag or towel below the blade before loosening the blade bolts. The rag catches the blade, which avoids full disassembly of the housing if it were to drop. As with any gas chipper shredder, if you mind the oil level and change it regularly, this machine will serve you faithfully for many years.

Patriot Products CSV-3100B 10 HP Chipper Leaf Shredder

Specs

Overview

Patriot is a high-quality manufacturer of both electric and gas chipper shredders. The CSV-3100B is, in my opinion, the best chipper shredder in its class for residential use. I own a Patriot electric shredder, the CSV-2515, so I have years of appreciation for their rugged, quality-built products. This CSV-3100B features a powerful B&S 10-HP engine that tears through anything you feed through the chute without strain. The limb capacity is a true three inches even for dry hardwood.

I love how Patriot machines exert a gentle pull on the material, which makes feeding a breeze. In theleafhopper, they use a patented Y-hammer flail design that significantly increases shredding efficiency. Ialsoappreciate the side exhaust for the shredded material as it makes a nice pile distant from the machine.Alternately, you can attach one of their oversize bags to collect the mulch or tilt a garbage can to catch themulch as it is ejected. This is not a budget-minded machine, but if you are looking for the best residential chipper shredder to handle an acre or more, this is it.

Yard Machines 24A-45M4700 208cc Gas Chipper Shredder

Specs

Overview

I would characterize this Yard Machines chipper shredder as an excellent entry-level gas-powered machine.It is certainly economical at such a price. It will grind up leaves, small debris and up to 2-inchlimbswithout too much trouble. The 6-HP OHV engine is plenty strong enough as long as you do not push it toohard. One nice feature is the rugged polymer hopper, which you can lower to the ground for direct raking.Anything that reduces the number of times you mustbend over is a winner in my book. It weighs a bit morethan the Patriot reviewed above, but rolls well across rough ground. The build is not quite as ruggedas, say,an Earthquake shredder, but if you take care of your tools that will not be a problem. By the way, this identical machine also comes in red under the MTD brand name.

Earthquake 14267 Chipper Shredder with 212cc 4-Cycle Viper Engine

Specs

Overview

This Earthquake model is similar to the Earthquake 9060300 reviewed previously. It utilizes a slightly larger engine made by Viper, which receives good reviews for quick starting and durability. Despite the lower price, this shredder has some impressive cutting power. There are dual 2-inch cutting blades for chipping that can even handle 3-inch hardwood limbs. The shredder utilizes both J-hammers and Tri-hammers for cutting down the material size before pulverizing into smooth mulch. Its reduction ratio of 20:1 matches much more expensive machines. The rotor/flywheel is oversize, whichcreates improved material suction and reduces having to push in material. Partly due to the lighter Viperengine, this machine is surprisingly portable at 110 lbs. The big, sturdy wheels roll easily over bumpyground. With a price nearing that of more cheaply-made machines, this Earthquake shredder is a great value for small to medium-sized yards.

DEK CH1M15 420cc 15 HP Gas Chipper Shredder

Specs

Overview

If I were ever to part with my current Earthquake 9-HP shredder, the DEK CH1M15 15HP chipper shredder is probably what I'd replace it with. The DEK providesa lot of headroom in terms of power and capacity forwhich I know I could find a use. The 15-HP commercial-grade engine barely loads when transforming a 4-inch limb into ¼-inch mulch, so you can imagine howit plows through leaves and lighter material. Unlikeother chippers in its class, the DEK uses a belt drive and centrifugal clutch, which translates into longerengine life. The shredder uses 16 flail hammers toachieve a 12:1 reduction ratio. As may have surmised,this chipper shredder is heavy. That is why it comes with a tow hitch and beefy 13 x 5-inch pneumatictires.The only drawback I found with this model is that the discharge chute points downward, unlike Patriotshredders that have a side discharge. This means you need to clear the mulch periodically to keep it frombacking up into the hopper. Otherwise, this machinewill handle everything you can throw at it. It isperfectfor large lot owners and even professional landscapers.

Merry Mac Walk-Behind Chipper/Vacuum Model# VCB1100M

Specs

Overview

I recommend this Merry Mac chipper shredder vacuum without hesitation. Considering that it completely eliminates raking, piling and bagging leaves, I think that high price is a bargain. Plus, it has a very capable chipper included that takes up to 2.875-inch limbs. Three forward gears, reverse and 6 vacuum heights means it easily adapts to your hard and is completely maneuverable. It is also built like a tank with a commercial-grade B&S 249cc OHV engine, solid state ignition and cast-iron cylinder sleeve.With this one machine, you can forgo a standalone chipper shredder. For small, medium or large lots, this vacuum shredder represents excellent value.

Troy-Bilt CSV70 Self-Propelled Hi/Low Chipper VacShredder

Specs

Overview

The Troy-Bilt CSV70 is a very efficient chipper shredder vacuum. It sucks up leaves and other small debris, mulches it with an 8:1 reduction ratio and neatly deposits the mulch into an attached 2-bushel bag. It uses a two-stage mulcher with a hardened cutting blade and six cast-steel flails for highly efficient pulverization. It also features a7-foot vacuum hose with an adjustable nozzle for reaching into tight areas or under shrubbery. Fallen limbs up to 1.5-inch diameter can be reduced to mulch in a separate on-board chute. With a 24-inch vacuum width, large, ball-bearing wheels and two forward speeds,this chipper shredder vacuum has superb maneuverability around any landscaping. This machine is a formidable time-saver for small to medium yards for which you want to maintain a well-manicured look with the least effort and expense.

Tips for Using a Chipper Shredder and Making It Last

Buy the Biggest Machine You Can

Chipper Shredders may be the most abused machine in any gardener's shed. They have to work under heavy loads to begin with, and owners typically push them to and beyond the limits of their design and power. That is totally understandable, and the fact that many manufacturers fudge the HP and limb capacity numbers does not help. In any case, this is my first recommendation for making your new machine last:

Buy a chipper shredder that is big enough and then some for the tasks you have in mind

Trying to save a couple hundred bucks by buying a machine that will break down prematurely because it is too small for the job is penny-wise and pound-foolish. If you are in doubt about whether a particular chipper shredder is big enough for your yard cleanup, buy at least the next size larger.

Avoid Shredding Wet, Clumped Material

Most chipper shredder manufacturers will avoid this topic, but even the best of those reviewed here will have trouble handling big wads of wet grass and leaves. Shredders work best when the material can circulatewithin the hopper so that the blades and flails can have a whack at it several times. Clumped, wet material will make even the most powerful machines look like wimps and can even stall the machine, so break that stuff up or better yet, dry it.

Make Chipper Shredder Maintenance a Priority to Avoid Problems

Chipper shredders in my experience receive low priority for maintenance. I am not sure why, but that may be because they are used at less regular intervals than, say, the lawn mower. Sometimes we cannot remember when the engine oil was changed last, for instance. Because they do such hard work, however, maintenance is even more important for these machines:

Always keep an eye on the engine oil level for gas-powered machines. Low oil or no oil takes years off the life of even the best engines in a big hurry. The price of a quart of oil is a tiny fraction of the cost of a new engine.

Make the first oil change after 10 to 20 hours of operation on a new machine and every 100 hours of operation after that. I use a whiteboard in my garden shed to remind me of such things.

Fix any oil leaks or malfunctioning parts as soon as you can. They will only get worse.

Keep the air filter clean on gas engines to maximize power and engine life.

On electric chipper shredders, if you use an extension cord be sure it is a large enough gauge to prevent voltage drops that can severely shorten the life of the motor. Here is a simple voltage drop calculator you can use.

Regardless of the type of motor your wood chipper shredder has, keep the blades sharp. Dull blades mean double the work for the motor and probably double the time for your work as well.

Never push your machine too hard. If chipping limbs are creating a burning smell, if there is excess smoke from the engine exhaust, if wet material is bogging down the motor, if the motor is hard to start or anything else seems amiss, give the problem prompt attention. To do otherwise risks expensive damage and a short life for a machine that makes your yard and garden chores so much easier.

Why Listen to Me?

That is a very good question. I answer that question by noting that I do have extensive personal experience with manual and powered gardening/yard tools going back decades. My first power machine was a Troy-Bilt rototiller that I purchased on contract directly from Troy-Bilt back in 1972. Ever since then, I have leveraged machine power to grow bigger gardens, maintain acre-plus yards, trim trees and shrubs, install fences and dig trenches. About half of that experience is commercial. At home and on the job as a construction worker, I have been around power tools the majority of my life and I know what works, what does not work well and what goes into making a quality tool.

Although I have put a lot of effort into researching about 50 chipper shredders firsthand, pored over more than a hundred specifications and carefully studied countless buyer reviews in preparing this guide, I do not expect anyone to think that I have the final word on the topic. I urge you to do your own research and study garden chipper shredder reviews for yourself and try out different models at the shops. It is my belief that once you have done that, you will understand why I recommend the models reviewed here.

Making the Decision

How Did I Choose the Chipper Shredders Reviewed Here?

Personally, I have owned and operated ten different chipper shredders over the years. Some were better than others, and I took the time to figure out why and to discern which manufacturers spent the most time on good design and manufacturing techniques.

Naturally, many of those models that I owned long ago are not sold today. I looked for similar models to the ones I had come to respect plus new and improved models from the best manufacturers. After carefully studying reviews and specs online, I obtained hands-on experience by visiting local shops to try out what I thought were the best models.

A few times, I had to drive to a nearby larger city to find specific models and shops that would let me test the machines with my own materials. I took green and dry limbs of various sizes plus bushels of dry and wet grass and leaves to run these machines through their paces. It did not happen often that I was disappointed by specific machines, but when I was you can bet those were scratched off the list of candidates for this guide in short order.

How You Can Buy the Absolute Best Chipper Shredder

So, which is the absolute best wood chipper or shredder? In the end, the answer to that depends on your particular needs, your yard size and your budget, but I think from the garden chipper shredder reviews I have supplied above, you should have no trouble finding a machine that suits you without having to go through all the real and virtual legwork that I did.

Since I supplied more than one Earthquake chipper review and mentioned that I own one myself, you can see I am clearly biased in their direction. But, honestly, I feel all the chippers, shredders and vacuums reviewed here represent the best value on the market today. Personally, I would be proud to own any of them.

My hope is that this guide has shortened your path to finding an excellent chipper shredder that lasts many years and saves you many, many hours of work that you can better spend enjoying other, fun activities with friends and family. If this guide has at least provided some educational value, which helps you do more effective research on your own, then it will have been well worth my effort. Hopefully, it leads you to a quick, confident and informed decision that makes your purchase of a new chipper shredder or chipper shredded vacuum a pleasant experience.

I thank you for taking the time to study this guide and wish you all the best for a lavish garden and an immaculate yard.

Recent Posts

Plantozoid.com is a participant of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program – it is designed to provide an aid for the websites in earning an advertisement fee – by means of advertising and linking to Amazon.com products.
*Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.